Re: [DS] Why tank destroyers?

At 11:21 PM -0400 9/5/01, Glenn M Wilson wrote:

>Re-engineering a turret is complicated but sticking the new 'whiz bang'
>gun on a cheaper hull with an open top turret was quicker and (in
theory)
>cheaper.  The ability for increased (what is the word?) 'negative

The open top also gave the crew more room to work with the larger 
ammunition and a better view for the commander and crew.

>
>Showing my complete ignorance, did the UK have TD designs?  How were
they
>applied/used?

They used the US M10 as the Achilies. Its my understanding they 
swapped out the 76mm for their preferred 17 pounder in some cases.

Aye, one was a stop gap for the 17 pounder that was later fitted to 
the Sherman Firefly. It was a Calentine chassis with the gun fitted 
in a rear facing non turreted arrangement. The Valentine was a 
relatively good chassis. As it tended to be used as a highly mobile 
and somewhat armoured defensive weapon, it worked well in the defense 
or to bolster a taken position against counter attacks.

http://www.magma.ca/~tracks/archer.htm

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